Announce the filing of a civil lawsuit naming St. John’s Abbey and Father Michael Bik as defendants. The suit is being brought by Doe 497, a survivor who was sexually abused by Bik when he was a 15 or 16 year old Sophomore at St. John’s Prep School in 1998.

Media Advisory
May 8, 2016
St. Paul News Conference Monday

New Lawsuit Against St. John’s brought by Survivor Abused by Father Michael Bik in 1998

Bik abused the boy after St. John’s learned he sexually abused two students in the 1970s when he was a teacher at St. Stephen’s in Anoka

Bik taught at Twin Cities Catholic schools in Anoka and Shoreview before becoming a monk and priest of St. John’s

What: At a news conference Monday in St. Paul, attorneys Jeff Anderson and Mike Bryant, along with advocate and former St. John’s monk, Patrick Wall will:

* Announce the filing of a civil lawsuit naming St. John’s Abbey and Father Michael Bik as defendants. The suit is being brought by Doe 497, a survivor who was sexually abused by Bik when he was a 15 or 16 year old Sophomore at St. John’s Prep School in 1998.

* Discuss the fact that just weeks before Bik started abusing Doe 497 he admitted to St. John’s that he sexually abused at least two boys in Anoka in the 1970s.

* Encourage survivors of sexual abuse by Fr. Michael Bik, and others, to come forward safely and confidentially before the Child Victims Act window legislation expires on May 25, 2016.

WHEN:

Monday, May 9, 2016, at 1:00 PM CT

WHERE:

Jeff Anderson & Associates
366 Jackson Street, Suite 100
St. Paul, MN 55101

Notes: The event will be live-streamed online with links available on our homepage shortly before the event at www.andersonadvocates.com<http://www.andersonadvocates.com>

* A copy of the complaint and other documents from Bik’s file will be available at the press conference and on our website and the event will be live-streamed online with links available on our homepage shortly before the event at www.andersonadvocates.com.

Contact Jeff Anderson: Office: 651.227.9990 Cell: 612.817.8665

Contact Mike Bryant: Office: 320.259.5414 Cell: 800.359.0061

Contact Patrick Wall: Office: 651.227.9990 Cell: 949.307.3935

St. Cloud, Minn. (KNSI) – A St. John’s Abbey Monk is being named in a civil lawsuit accused of abusing a student in 1998.

The suit names Father Michael Bik and St. John’s Abbey as defendants.

Court records filed by attorney’s representing Doe 497 say he was sexually abused by Bik when he was a 15 or 16 year old sophomore at St. John’s Prep School.

Recently filed courts records show Bik was able to abuse the boy after St. John’s learned he had sexually abused two students in the 1970s when he was a teacher at St. Stephen’s in Anoka.

Bik was permanently removed from ministry in 2002 and placed under supervision in the St. John’s Abbey Safety Plan designed to watch priest credibly accused of abusing from children.

Attorney Mike Bryant of Bradshaw and Bryant said the window for victims of child sexual abuse to file a civil lawsuit against their offenders will expire on May 25th.

St. John’s Abbey didn’t immediately return a call asking for a response or comment about the suit.

View Entire Article and Comments… Here

St. John’s Monk Accused Of Abuse
KNSI
May 9, 2016

(SC Times) A former student at St. John’s Prep has sued the school, St. John’s Abbey, the Order of St. Benedict and the Rev. Michael Bik, accusing Bik of sexually abusing him in 1998.

The lawsuit filed Monday alleges negligence in Prep School leaders allowing Bik to teach at the school 28 years after Bik abused two boys while he was a lay teacher at an Anoka school.

Read Entire Article and View Comments… Here

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A St. John’s priest accused of sexual abuse allegedly told his victim it was required as a part of the confirmation process.

On Monday, a new lawsuit was filed against Father Michael Bik and St. John’s Abbey.

Prosecutors say Bik abused a boy at St. John’s Prep after the school learned he sexually abused two students in the 1970s, when he was a teacher at St. Stephens in Anoka.

They say Bik admitted to the abuse in 1998 and St. John’s allowed him to keep teaching.

Lawyers are asking any other victims to come forward before the Child Victims Act window legislation expires on May 25.

Source: Here

Another St. John’s Priest Accused Of Abuse
WCCO – TV
May 9, 2016

In February of 2006, a representative of the Archdiocese of New York called Saint John’s Abbey to report that a former Saint John’s Abbey monk/priest, Father Agustin Cerezo Murillo, had been credibly accused of multiple allegations of sexual abuse while serving at Saint Anselm’s Church in the Bronx (New York) in the late 1960’s.

For over ten years, Abbot John Klassen has deceived the Saint John’s community and failed to advocate for – and validate the abuse suffered by – Father Cerezo Murillo’s victims.

Father Cerezo Murillo entered the Novitiate at Saint John’s Abbey in 1949 and professed his solemn vows in 1950.

Father Cerezo Murillo received the order of Diaconate in 1955,  was ordained on June 8, 1956 and said his first mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City two days later.

One of Father Cerezo Murillo’s victims was 11 years old at the time she was abused in approximately 1969. By the next year, Father Cerezo Murillo was removed from Saint Anselm’s and quietly moved to Mexico where he was reportedly incardinated into the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico in the early 1970s.

The abbot at Saint John’s Abbey at the time Father Cerezo Murillo was caught, recalled and released was Abbot Baldwin Dworschak, OSB.

In 2006, Msgr. Desmond O’Conner, Personnel Director and Victims Coordinator at the Archdiocese of New York reported to the Saint John’s Abbey that there were “other episodes” during his time at Saint Anselm’s and that Father Cerezo Murillo was “withdrawn from the parish.”

Despite multiple credible allegations, Saint John’s Abbey has yet to release any information or documentation regarding Father Agustin Cerezo Murillo.

If fact, they’ve done the opposite.

In January of 2016, Saint John’s Abbey created a web site [ More ] released the partial files of eighteen perpetrating monks. Included with the release was this lie:

The files released in the Transparency Initiative are those of all the monks, past and present, who have likely offended against minors.

Additional excerpts from “A Conversation with Abbot John Klassen, OSB, Regarding the Transparency Initiative” [ View as PDF ] include:

“The files reflect all the effective actions that have been taken in the past quarter-century to publicly reach out to other survivors of abuse and to implement effective policies and actions to stop additional incidents of abuse.” said Abbot John Klassen, OSB. 

There has not been a decades long commitment by the abbey to help the healing of survivors.

There has been no public outreach to the victims of Father Augustin Cerezo Murillo.

The Father Agustin Cerezo Murillo matter is a perfect example of how Abbot John Klassen has deceived the Saint John’s community and failed to advocate for – and validate the abuse suffered by – Father Cerezo Murillo’s victims.

Yet another example of how Abbot John Klassen has failed as Saint John’s spiritual leader.

Over 800 and counting. That’s the rough number of lawsuits or notices of claims filed by St. Paul lawyer Jeff Anderson’s firm on behalf of alleged survivors of childhood sexual abuse since the state’s Child Victim Act went into effect May 25, 2013.

“I believe it might reach up to 900 by the time it’s over,” said Anderson, referring to the fact that the law will expire next Wednesday.

Throw in at least 62 similar suits generated by lawyer Patrick Noaker, who once worked with Anderson, and it appears close to 1,000 claims might be filed by just two law firms in the state before next week’s deadline.

If the figure raises eyebrows, Anderson says there probably should have been many more.

“I’ve been doing this for 33 years, and for many of those years, these survivors, child abuse victims and others, have been shut out, their cases thrown out because of statutes of limitations,” said Anderson. His firm has posted ads about the law in virtually every newspaper in the state, Facebook and other media venues since the first week the law went into effect. (“We don’t call it advertising. We call it outreach,” Anderson told me.)

“We have fielded thousands of calls over the years from people denied access,” Anderson added. “What this law has done is finally given them a voice and to have the courthouse doors opened to them.”

The clergy sex abuse scandals of recent decades, both here and elsewhere, undoubtedly had a major impact on the law’s passage three years ago.The law established a three-year window for adults sexually abused as children to file civil claims. Previous statutes of limitations return once the window closes May 25.

If a victim is abused now before age 18, actions for damages commence at any time, according to a fact sheet provided by the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Abuse (CASA). Individuals younger than 24 at the time the child victim law went into effect have no statute of limitations to bring their case forward. However, individuals older than 24 at the time the law became effective can no longer bring a claim after May 25 of this year. The deadline for those seeking claims against the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis expired Aug. 3 of last year.

“We have received many calls, some from people who moved out of state and just learned about the law, and we do refer them to lawyers or others and provide other information,” said Caroline Palmer, CASA’s legal affairs director.

It is hardly a surprise that over half of the legal proceedings and cases filed by Anderson’s firm so far involve the Catholic Church. He has made a lucrative career representing victims of clergy abuse.

The dioceses of Duluth and Minneapolis and St. Paul filed for bankruptcy protection last year as a result of court judgments and costly settlements both before and after the child victim law was passed. Every diocese in the state and an estimated 100 parishes have reportedly been named as defendants in claims filed in the past three years. There are also complaints lodged against St. John’s Abbey, the Crosiers and the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

“The impact has been unavoidably huge,” Charles Reid, a University of St. Thomas professor and expert on Catholicism and canon law, said about the toll of such litigation on archdiocese finances. There have been significant cuts in staff and services, he added.

“No question. The victims have justice on their side,” he added. “They have been abused and mistreated twice — first by the priest, and then the church who did not believe them. But everyone has finite resources.”

The remainder of the Anderson firm’s cases involve several Lutheran churches, other denominations, the Boy Scouts, public and private schools (including Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault), summer camps, youth organizations, group homes and some individuals. Notices have also been filed against Mesabi Academy, a private juvenile treatment and correctional facility in Buhl, Minn., that recently made headlines following accusations of sexual abuse and poor treatment. The academy has denied any wrongdoing.

Anderson’s firm has also filed eight lawsuits against Minneapolis-based Children’s Theatre Company and its founder, John Clark Donahue, among others. The claimants are nine adults who claim they were abused as minors in the 1970s and 1980s.

In conjunction with a handful of other attorneys, Noaker’s firm has filed claims against the Boy Scouts of America on behalf of at least six Twin Cities area men.

Like Anderson, Noaker is aware of criticisms that the law essentially has given money-hungry lawyers an opportunity to shake down churches and other institutions for alleged incidents that took place decades ago.

Like Anderson, he dismisses such perceptions.

The law forces “the people and institutions who are responsible for injuries related to sexual abuse to bear the responsibility for helping those they injured,” Noaker stated in an email.

“We now know a lot more about the ways that pedophiles manipulate institutional settings in order to gain access to kids,” he added. “With this information, institutions know more and can better fashion child protection measures, and kids are safer.”

Anderson also notes that civil litigation has forced dioceses to release the names of more than 200 credibly accused priests and others, some who still live in the state and were not previously known.

“This law has performed a stunning public service, in my opinion,” said Anderson, who is still recovering from what he described as a “widowmaker” heart attack in February. “As far as the criticisms, I’ve been hearing that since I filed my first lawsuit for a child victim in 1983. I don’t pay them any mind. My life speaks for itself.”

Jared Scheierl hopes filing a civil claim before the deadline will give him the chance one day to face the man he believes abducted and sexually abused him in Cold Spring, Minn., in 1989 when he was 12. That man, Daniel James Heinrich, is considered by law enforcement authorities to be a “person of interest” in the abduction of Jacob Wetterling. Heinrich is facing trial this summer on federal child pornography charges. Scheierl’s assault took place nine months before Wetterling, then 11, was grabbed at gunpoint near his St. Joseph, Minn., home. Wetterling’s fate remains unknown.

Last year, Scheierl learned for the first time his alleged assailant’s identity when FBI agents informed him that Heinrich’s DNA was found on clothing he wore the day of the assault. But they also informed him that the criminal statute of limitations for charging Heinrich with the assault had expired. Scheierl decided to proceed civilly after watching attorney Doug Kelley comment on the Heinrich case on TV two weeks ago.

“I believe the law has had a (good) effect and brought honor and respect to the complaints of victims who for a long time had been neglected,” Kelley said.

Although the lawsuit filed by Kelley on his behalf asks for $50,000 in damages for false imprisonment and sexual battery, “it’s not about the money at all,” Scheierl told me Tuesday by phone. “It’s about the principle of the matter, the chance to perhaps ask (Heinrich) questions (in a deposition). This man may be responsible for other victims, and this might provide answers for those who don’t have conclusive evidence like I do.”

He agrees with Anderson that the number of filed lawsuits or claims does not nearly reflect the actual number of childhood sexual abuse survivors in the state.

“I know a great many out there, men ranging from 60 to 30 years of age,” he said. “Many are not even in a place yet to even fully address what happened to them. There’s excessive use of drugs and alcohol to cope with it. For me, I know it’s a lengthy process, but I’m willing to go ahead and be patient and hope I get that chance to sit across the table from him.”

View Entire Article and Comments… Here

Rubén Rosario
800 claims and counting as child sex-abuse law nears expiration
Pioneer Press
May 18, 2016

The Diocese of St. Cloud on Monday was served with several dozen civil lawsuits alleging sexual abuse against children by former monks and priests who were assigned positions within the diocese.

The filings came just ahead of Wednesday’s deadline to file lawsuits under the Child Victims Act, which provided a three-year window in which victims could sue for decades-old sexual abuse. Those claims previously would have been dismissed because of statute of limitations violations.

Read the Entire Article and View Comments… Here

Diocese served with dozens of lawsuits
Saint Cloud Times
David Unze
May 23, 2016

Allegations of abuse were made against the following clergy members in the lawsuits against the Diocese of St. Cloud during the three-year window of the Minnesota Child Victims Act, which expired May 25.

Cosmas Dahlheimer, OSB
Hubert Dahlheimer, OSB
John Eccleston
Richard Eckroth, OSB
Sylvester Gall
Raoul Gauthier
Thomas Gillespie, OSB
Philibert Harrer, OSB
Othmar Hohmann, OSB
Matthew Kiess, OSB
Val Klimek
Joseph Kremer
Henry Lutgen
Brennan Maiers, OSB
Antonio Marfori
James Mohm
Jerome Reisinger
David Rieder
Donald Rieder
David Sheldon
Paul Shurek
Robert Smith
Peter Snyers
Allan Speiser
James Thoennes
Thomas Thole, OSB
Roger Vaughn, OSC
William Wey
Joseph Wiersgalla
Mark Willenbring
Vincent Yzermans

Source: diocese of Saint Cloud

On Wednesday, June 20, Saint John’s Abbey filed seven lawsuits with Stearns County Court in Saint Cloud. These suits were served against Saint John’s by plaintiffs’ attorneys in the final weeks of the window created by the Minnesota Child Victims Act, which closed May 25. However, the lawsuits were not filed in court at that time.

Although it is usually plaintiffs who file cases in court, Saint John’s is itself filing these claims because of various legal issues that can only be resolved once the suit is actually filed and the court process begins. These are not lawsuits brought by Saint John’s, nor are they new claims. Instead, they are lawsuits served on Saint John’s this past Spring that are being filed with the court in order to move various legal processes along.

One of the complaints, brought by “Doe 304,” alleges “unpermitted sexual contact with Plaintiff” in 1993, when the plaintiff was a minor, and names then-Br. Doug Mullin, OSB, as the offender. Fr. Mullin was the Prep School Dean of Students at that time. Fr. Mullin adamantly denies the allegation. Saint John’s Abbey has full confidence in Fr. Mullin’s denial and, by filing the complaint in court—at Fr. Mullin’s request—is seeking to restore his good name.

View as PDF… Here

Saint John’s Abbey
July 24, 2016

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) – Two brothers have been awarded more than $2 million by a Hennepin County jury for the sexual abuse they suffered from former casting director Matthew Feeney. After three and a half hours of deliberations on Wednesday, the jury awarded the money to the victims.

Feeney, 48, is currently serving a 9 year prison sentence in Moose Lake, after pleading guilty in 2013 to molesting the brothers in Washington County. They were clients of his Bloomington talent agency, Walden Entertainment, where he casted children in movie and television roles.

The victims are now 21 and 16 years old. Feeney befriended the brothers and their parents in the fall of 2007 when he started giving the boys casting opportunities and acting classes. The abuse occurred at Feeney’s home when he had the boys over to coach them on acting skills, watch movies and play video games.

The mother of the victims said she had no knowledge of Feeney’s previous sex abuse convictions when she met him.

Feeney was convicted of those crimes in 1992 when he was a camp counselor and Catholic youth pastor. He received probation and was sent to treatment.

Attorney Patrick Noaker, who represented the brothers, said the jury verdict is rare in these types of cases.

“This guy was a serial abuser and there should be no more families put in the position of this family,” Noaker told Fox 9 News.

The 21-year old victim was awarded $974,281 and the 16-year old $1,098,796 for past and future emotional distress and health care costs.

Mike McDonald the lawyer who represented Feeney has not returned calls from Fox 9 for comment.

Feeney facing charges in Massachusetts

Feeney will soon be sent to Massachusetts to face charges for the sexual assault of a 14-year old boy, five years after the accusations were made.

He is charged with one count of rape of a child aggravated by age and two counts of indecent assault and battery.

He waived extradition on Friday in Carlton county court.

Prosecutors allege the incident occurred while Feeney was visiting the home of the boy’s family in Norton, MA.

Feeney pleaded not guilty and posted $25,000 cash bail before returning to Minnesota in 2012.

The victim reported the alleged abuse soon after it occurred but it has taken several years for the east coast prosecutors to get to this point.

The victim’s family said circumstances beyond the control of the county attorney’s office have delayed a trial.

For instance, Feeney’s attorney at the time was J. W. Carney. He was representing James Whitey Bulger, a former organized crime boss from Boston. Bulger had just been captured after years on the run from murder and racketeering charges. Also one of only two judges in Bristol County was hearing the murder case of former New England Patriot, Aaron Hernandez.

“It’s a relief, we have been waiting a long time,” said the mother of the now 19-year old victim. “It’s important for the victim and his family to be allowed the right to closure and healing”.

View the Entire Article and Read Comments…. Here

Victims abused by Minnesota casting director awarded more than $2 million
Fox9 – Minneapolis
July 28, 2016

2 Victims Sexually Abused by Minnesota Casting Director Awarded $2.1 Million

Two Minnesota brothers who were sexually abused by a local casting director, have been awarded more than $2 million in damages by a Hennepin County jury.

Matthew Feeney was convicted in 2014. He’s currently serving time in prison.

In an emotional meeting with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, the brothers explain why they hope speaking out will keep other kids from becoming victims.

The brothers don’t want to share their names, but they did show us their faces because Matthew Feeney no longer has power over them.  For this story will refer to them as they are mentioned in court documents. The older brother is John Doe 101, the younger John Doe 102.

“When I heard that, that um, that it happened to him too, I felt kind of responsible, for not telling anyone” says a distraught John Doe 101. “And I kind of kick myself all the time about it because I could have stopped it.”

The abuse happened years ago but the pain is still real. These brothers were young actors when they were molested by talent agent Matthew Feeney. How did he gain their trust?  John Doe 102 says “Well he was just a fun person, you know.”

“Matthew Feeney is a very dangerous man. He is a serial predator who should never, ever have access to children again,” said attorney Patrick Noaker.

Noaker says Feeney seemed like a great guy and even attended family events.

“This man was funny, charming even silly on many occasions. And those characteristics are very attractive to children. And also don’t raise the concern of parents. And that’s what happened here,” said Noaker.

The boys say Feeney took control. John Doe 101 says they never talked with each other about being abused.  “But neither of us had heard each other’s story about what had happened until the trial itself.”

“I didn’t know he was like the same exact situation” adds John Doe 102.

But now the brothers are asking other victims of abuse to do what they did not.

“They should tell anybody that they can” said John Doe 2.

John Doe 101 agrees.

“Tell someone you think you can trust and if they don’t believe you tell another person,” said John Doe 101.

The boys rejected a settlement offer. They said the jury’s award acknowledges they are victims.

“The judgment, yeah it’s X amount of dollars,” said John Does 101. “But I would trade anything for it not to happen.”

Court documents show in the early 1990s Matthew Feeney was convicted of abusing three children in Aitkin and Stearns counties.

But nobody knew about it because unlike some states, Minnesota does not require background checks for casting directors who work with children.  The family of the two boys say they will work with lawmakers to try and change that.

View Entire Article… Here

2 Victims Sexually Abused by Minnesota Casting Director Awarded $2.1 Million
KSTP – Channel 5
Minneapolis, MN
July 28, 2016

Link: http://www.wcvb.com/news/convicted-sex-offender-to-stand-trial-in-massachusetts/41004298

NORTON, Mass. — A forming casting agent behind bars in Minnesota for sexually abusing boys will soon be extradited to Massachusetts on charges including child rape.

Link: http://www.fox25boston.com/news/man-convicted-of-sexual-abuse-to-face-child-rape-charge-in-mass/415353765

The local victim, who was just 14 at the time, came forward to his mother the year after the 2010 incident and told her Matthew Feeney, a relative who had stayed with them in their Norton home, had sexually assaulted him during his stay.

“It was like a bomb went off in our life, and even though you couldn’t see we were missing anything physical, everything changed in our life,” the teen’s mother told FOX25. “To be betrayed by someone you’ve loved your whole life, it’s particularly devastating.”

Later, in 2013, Feeney pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two other boys, one of them just nine years old. They are brothers and former clients of Feeney’s Minnesota casting agency, Walden Entertainment, which he used to cast children in acting roles.

In the early 1990s, Feeney received probation and was sent to treatment for three child sex abuse convictions, when he worked as a camp counselor and a Catholic youth pastor.

In journal entries obtained by FOX5 in Minneapolis, Feeney admitted to his “temptation.”

“It would be so much easier to simply be gay,” Feeney wrote. “At least you could find some support and acceptance from others who share your feelings. How many support groups are there for potential child molesters? Call it what you want. That’s what I am. I am a monster.”

Feeney, who is serving a nine-year sentence for the 2013 plea, had been fighting extradition, but waived rendition last week, agreeing to travel to Bristol County to face the Massachusetts charges.

The local mother, who had no knowledge of Feeney’s past, said her son is ready to testify against Feeney, for himself and for others. He wants to encourage other potential victims to come forward.

“Whatever Matthew Feeney has to serve, he’ll be done and he’ll get out, but my son will serve a life sentence,” she said. “We’re tired of waiting. We just want justice, and we just want a trial date, and we want to go forward and put this behind us, so that my son can heal.”

FOX25 tried reaching Feeney’s attorney, but did not make contact.

A spokesman for the Bristol County District Attorney said no court date has yet been set, but they are looking forward to the case finally being tried.

‘In St. Cloud during the Great Depression and Prohibition days, the monks of St. John’s Abbey ran and owned, in the area today known as Collegeville, the biggest moonshine-brewing still in Stearns County, and whenever the feds came sniffing around looking to bust the holy bootleggers, the monks would put down their whiskey, pull up their cowls, and, as the song goes, pretend to pray.’

MINNpost Link: https://www.minnpost.com/arts-culture/2017/01/minnesota-13-grain-glass-tells-secret-bootlegging-history-stearns-county

“The walkers that Rev. Finian McDonald “startled” while riding his bike around the Central Minnesota campus had it easy compared to the children and young adults that McDonald sexually assaulted as he taught, perfected, counseled and otherwise pretended to be a man of God — while his brothers and colleagues who knew better looked the other way.” – Admin

Rev. Finian McDonald’s Obituary: More Deception

You can read Rev. Finian McDonald’s obituary at Legacy.com [ Here ] or via the St. John’s Abbey Web Site [ Here ].

While the two obituaries aren’t identical, this sentence is included in each version:

“In his later years, various allegations of sexual misconduct subjected Finian to restrictions and therapy.“

Definition of Allegation: “an assertion made with little or no proof.”  [ View ]

Abbot John Klassen and the monks of Saint John’s Abbey know the difference.

Rev. Finian McDonald was an admitted, serial, sexual offender. Credible reports of his abuse span from at least 1970 until approximately 2013 when he was sent to Missouri after an inappropriate encounter with a male on campus.

According an article in the November 24, 2015 edition of the StarTribune:

[McDonald’s file] includes a 2012 assessment of the Rev. Finian McDonald, who told a psychologist that he had about 200 sexual encounters as a priest. McDonald reported that his youngest victims were 13- or 14-year-old prostitutes in Thailand, that he had 18 victims while serving as a prefect at St. John’s dormitories, and that he had acted out sexually and abused alcohol during most of his 29 years as a dormitory prefect. Sexual encounters also occurred with adults. [ View ]

Abbot John Klassen and the monks of Saint John’s Abbey should know better than to misrepresent the evil done and pain caused by this man.

The abbey’s version of Rev. Finian’s obituary includes this lovely bit:

Father Finian described himself as “resident abbey humorist,” and loved “clowning” with his confreres. He brightened everyone’s day with his vivacious sense of humor. Besides regaling his confreres with his sharp wit, he enjoyed bicycling and startled many unwary walkers with toots from his handle-bar horn.

There is no doubt that, as the obituary reads, that Rev. Finian McDonald startled many unwary people during his time in Collegeville, MN.

Certainly, the walkers that Rev. Finian McDonald “startled” while riding his bike around the Central Minnesota campus had it easy compared to the children and young adults that McDonald sexually assaulted as he taught, perfected, counseled and otherwise pretended to be a man of God — while his brothers and colleagues who knew better looked the other way.

This obituary is yet another look in the other direction… another deception.

The names of three priests from St. John’s Abbey who sexually abused children in parishes across Minnesota were made public for the first time Tuesday.

Attorney Jeff Anderson announced the names as part of settlements with the abuse survivors. He said St. John’s has settled 17 sex abuse cases in recent months.

More than 60 additional lawsuits against abbey monks have not yet been settled, Anderson said. The abbey has added the three names to its website, which now lists 21 monks credibly accused of sexually abusing children.

The latest names are the Rev. Casimir Plakut, the Rev. Augustine Strub and the Rev. James Kelly. The monks served at parishes across Minnesota, including Stillwater, Duluth and Wayzata, from the 1940s to the 1970s.

All three are deceased, and had severed their relationship with St. John’s before they died, according to a statement released by the abbey.

More at… Star Tribune Link

St. John’s Abbey adds three new names to clergy abuse file
By JEAN HOPFENSPERGER
STAR TRIBUNE
September 19, 2017

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis on Friday afternoon released the names of 19 deceased or former priests or members of religious orders against whom it now acknowledges “substantiated claims of sexual abuse of minors.”

View Full Article… Here

Many of the names have long been in the public domain, released by their religious orders on their own lists of members credibly accused of abuse, named in victims’ lawsuits or on websites compiled by abuse survivors. But it appears to be the first time the archdiocese has released their names in relation to its own jurisdiction.

In a statement on the archdiocese’s website, Tim O’Malley, director of the archdiocese’s Office of Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment, wrote, “Eighteen of the men have been disclosed by their diocese or religious order based on alleged abuse outside of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, but had, at some point, served or spent time in this archdiocese. The other man served in the archdiocese until his death in the early 1960s and is being disclosed now based on recent interviews with victims/survivors who courageously came forward.”

Tom Halden, director of communications for the archdiocese, said late Friday that he had no comment beyond what the news release said.

Fourteen of the men on the new list have died. None who survives now serves in any pastoral capacity.

The names were added to a longer list of about 70 other names on the archdiocese’s website.

The 18 names listed by the archdiocese as previously released by their religious orders:

Members of the Crosier order: Cornelius DeVenster, founder of the Crosier Seminary in Onamia, Minn., who died in 1988; Thomas O’Brien, who was removed from the ministry in 2002 and defrocked in 2008; Michael Paquet, who was removed from the ministry in 2002 and dismissed from the order in 2005; Urban Schmitt, who died in 1999, and James Moeglein, who was removed from the ministry in 2002.

Members of the Benedictine order, most of whom served at St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville: Othmar Hohmann, who died in 1980; James Phillips, who was placed on restricted status in 2002 after having served as chaplain at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale from 1998-2002; Dunstan Moorse, a St. John’s monk who worked in both the Twin Cities and St. Cloud dioceses, and Pirmin Wendt, who died in 1982.

Members of Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate order: Paul Kabat, who died in 1999; Thomas Meyer, who died in 2012; Orville Munie, who died in 1993, and Emil Twardochleb, who died in 1975.

Priests of the New Ulm Diocese: John Gleason, who died in 1998; David Roney, who died in 2003; Michael Skoblik, who died in 1989; Charles Stark, who died in 1991, and John Murphy, who died in 2001.

Disclosed by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis: Vincent Worzalla, who died in 1962.

Like many dioceses nationwide, the Twin Cities archdiocese has been beleaguered and transformed by years of revelations about sexual abuse of children by clergy. In January 2015, it filed for bankruptcy, citing the number of abuse claims made possible through the Minnesota Child Victims Act, which opened a three-year window for older abuse cases to be heard in civil court. That window closed in 2016.

Staff writer Pamela Miller contributed to this report.

View Full Article… Here

Twin Cities Archdiocese releases names of 19 men suspected of sexually abusing minors
Karen Zamora
Star Tribune
November 4, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A student at a Minnesota Catholic college vanished in the middle of the night. This week marks 15 years since Josh Guimond went missing from St. John’s University.

A standout student, the 20-year-old had a bright future ahead. That all changed Nov. 9, 2002. Guimond’s disappearance would later face extra scrutiny, both for the clergy sex-abuse scandal and for the investigators assigned to the case.

More at WCCO… Here

In 1992, Father Anthony Joseph Oelrich graduated from the Saint John’s School of Theology•Seminary in Collegeville, Minnesota (USA). Arrested February 13, 2018

Additional information about Father Tony Olerich:

St. Cloud Police Department Police Reports – January 5, 2017  (PDF)

“She and Father Tony became friends and Father Tony told her that he was in love with another woman.”

“In November of 2015, Father Tony was sent to St. Luke’s for what they stated was a mental health break.”

Diocese of Saint Cloud Web Page
Continuing Education for Clergy – February 13, 2018 (Link)

Rev. Tony Oelrich, Director

Christ Church Newman Center Web Page – February 13, 2018 (Link)

Father Tony joined us in 2007.  Fr. Tony also serves as the Director of Continuing Education for clergy in the St. Cloud Diocese.  A native of Milaca, Fr. Tony was ordained on his birthday and has served our diocese for over 20 years. He enjoys following the Twins and can talk sports with the best of them. ​​​​​

National Federation of Priests’ Councils – September 5, 2014   (Link)

Fr. Oelrich shares many lessons in this article. One of the most poignant is, “I don’t do it alone. I can’t do it alone. We––the staff, lay leaders, parishioners––are in this together. And what we do ultimately will be judged by how the Gospel prospers among us and equips us for discipleship in the world.”

Author “A Church Fully Engaged.” (Link)

Fr. Tony Oelrich, pastor of the Newman Center and rector of Saint Mary’s Cathedral in Saint Cloud. He is pictured here with Ann Jonas, Saint John’s University Bookstore Manager and his book, “A Church Fully Engaged.”

“The Eyes May Finally See” – June 10, 2015  (Available on Request)

At the start of June 1992 Father Tony Oelrich, newly ordained, replaced Father Taufen. [Editor’s note: I wrestle with whether to call him “Father Tony” (as he was known to parishioners) in this narrative or simply “Oelrich”—as a tacit way of dismissing his clergy status. He seemingly dismissed the sanctity of his vows almost immediately, but I will refer to him as “Father Tony” nonetheless, because using his priestly title here makes the contradiction between his priestly office and vows and his repeated behavior unbearable—as it should be.]  – 

More on Father Tony Oelrich… Here

Father Anthony Joseph Oelrich was reportedly arrested earlier today and is currently being held at the Stearns County Jail. Father Tony is a ’92 graduate of the Saint John’s School of Theology•Seminary in Collegeville, Minnesota (USA) and is an employee at the Newman Center at Saint Cloud State University.  Fr. Tony also serves as the Director of Continuing Education for clergy in the St. Cloud Diocese.

Jail Roster: Link
Charges: Crim Sex 3 (Statute)

(aka Tony Olerich)